Take action before the water rises

12:00AM BST 28 Oct 2001

IF you are away and your home is flooded, there may be little you can do.

During last year's floods in Lewes, Sussex, police cleared the affected area and refused access to homeowners who wanted to save treasured possessions. But if you are at home when the flood warning is given, move what you can upstairs and take important documents such as insurance certificates with you.

Contact your insurer as soon as possible.

Protecting your home with sandbags may be worthwhile if your home lies on the fringes of the expected flood, but could well be a waste of valuable time.

"The quantity of water from river flooding is often too great," says Bob Fitzsimmons of Royal SunAlliance, which has sent teams to Essex to advise homeowners on last week's floods.